MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — A group of 25 individuals, who train or coach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) educators, visited Massachusetts this week for a hands-on learning experience about beef production. The goal of this program was to help these STEM coordinators discover new and relevant ways to apply real-world application of STEM to students via agriculture.
“The amazing learning opportunities within the On The Farm professional development experience abound for both the professionals attending as well as their students and communities back home,” said Lauren Arbogast, Vivayic, Inc., instructional designer, who toured with the group. “This is the chance for educators to dive deep into agriculture and the beef industry and use these experiences to translate to their STEM curriculum components. Thanks to generous funding and support from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, in partnership with the Beef Checkoff, agriculture is coming alive in classrooms, districts and communities across the United States.”
While in Massachusetts the group toured the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Lilac Hedge Farm, Jordan Dairy Farms, Gibbet Hill Cattle Company and SpringDell Farm. In addition, representatives from Blood Farm and Luther Belden Farm spoke to the group during dinner. During these educational visits, the group explored technology applications in vet medicine and farming, including ultrasound equipment and a methane digester; animal handling in relation to Temple Grandin’s methods; nutrient management; animal management, including antibiotics; and the meat harvesting process.
“You can tell someone facts and show them a PowerPoint all day long, but getting them outside – letting them meet ranchers, see operations, ask questions – that is really how to make an impact,” said Julia Recko, American Farm Bureau Federation Foundation for Agriculture director of education outreach, who toured with the group. “We want these educators to have a hands-on experience so it has that impact. We want them not only to be told, but to see that agriculture is science, technology, engineering, mathematics and more! And this experience is doing just that.”
Group participants left with new ideas and lesson plans for applying agriculture in classroom. For example, the group discussed with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University representatives how many tools for vet treatment of livestock are meant for full-grown men. As many women and younger people enter the field of vet science, they have difficultly leveraging these tools. As such, the educators are planning to challenge their students to develop new tools for livestock management that require less force.
“As a Massachusetts producer, I am very pleased that our livestock industry could connect with these STEM educators,” said Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) President Ed Davidian, who farms in Northborough. “As farmers, we have to continue to communicate with the public through new avenues. The group this week gave our livestock producers another chance to tell their story and get their message out to the educator community, which is key to creating future bonds between agriculture and the public.”
Group participants included:
- Donna Calder, STEM Health/Science Teacher, Chicago Public Schools
- Logan Caldwell, Elementary Education Clinical Instructor and Site Coordinator, University of Memphis
- Rachel Carpenter, Education Manager, Children’s Discovery Museum
- Brian Dawson, Director of Library Development, Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Amy Dooley, Program Director, Jefferson Farm and Garden, University of Missouri
- Allie Dorsey, Librarian / STEM Coordinator / Enrollment Coordinator, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
- Kara Edwards, Executive Director, T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum
- Shekkola Gray, Science Specialist, Shadydale Elementary, Houston Independent School District
- Kishanna Harley, High School Librarian and Technology Teacher, Capital City Public Charter School
- David Hartney, President, Firsthand Learning, Inc.
- Suzette Hilton, Teacher, Ft. Rucker Elementary / Department of Defense Education
- Stacy Johnson, 4-H Program Coordinator, Redwood County 4-H
- Elena Korboukh, ELL Teacher, Delaware County Intermediate Unit
- Anne Mannarino, Project Director of SWIRL (Standards Within Real World Learning), Martinson Math & Science Center, Regent University
- Courtney Mulcahy, School Programs Coordinator, Shelburne Farms
- Christie Orlosky, Teacher / Professor, Armstrong School District / University of Pittsburgh
- Yolanda Payne, Media Specialist/ STEAM coordinator, Clarke County Schools and University of Georgia
- Lisa Posey, Instructional Technology Specialist, Genoa Central Elem
- Alison Puliatte, Assistant Professor, SUNY Plattsburgh
- Kellie Rankey, School Age Education Coordinator, Boys and Girls Club of Boston – Jordan Club
- John Reichenberg, Science Teacher, Wicomico County Board of Education
- Shari Schenfield, Science Unit Leader, Victory Christian School
- Selena Scott, Technology Teacher and STEM Coordinator, Our Lady of Grace Catholic School / Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
- Julie Smith, Teacher / Department Chair, Lennox Middle School
- Jennifer Yarnall, Science teacher, Bay Ridge Prep
This group was one of three that was selected to tour beef production in different locations across the United States. The next and final group for this year, is set to happen on July 9-11 in Orlando, Florida.
To see updates from the group, please see Twitter posts that are tagged with #beefingupSTEM2017. Click here to see more photos from this group’s visit to Massachusetts.
—Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
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